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The task of a carport is to protect the vehicle underneath so that wind and weather cannot harm it. As a protective shield, the carport itself is exposed to the forces of nature. In winter, the loads are even higher than in summer, and the seasonal snow load is added to the year-round wind load.

Regardless of whether your carport is made of wood or aluminum – before winter, you should make the carport winter-proof so that carport and vehicle can get through the winter undamaged.

Winter proof carport – what does that mean?

A carport that is winter-proof can easily withstand the stresses that winter brings: wind, rain, wet, cold, frost, hail, ice, and snow. Thanks to its stable construction and material properties, the carport becomes winter-proof.

The frames of modern carports are mostly made of wood, steel, or aluminum. Variants that combine both metal and wood are also common. Wood and aluminum have their material-specific properties and are influenced differently by winter weather.

Aluminum under the influence of wind and weather

After steel, aluminum is the most commonly used metal. On the one hand, the aluminum advantage in construction is lightweight.

The so-called non-ferrous metal, on the other hand, is particularly resistant to moisture (corrosion-resistant) – it hardly rusts.

Instead, aluminum components in air form a protective oxide layer. Aluminum profiles coated with plastic are also extremely easy to care for.

Wood under the influence of wind and weather

Wood is a raw material that rots in wind and weather – this is how nature works. Microorganisms and small organisms play a major role in rotting. The type of wood makes a difference in how quickly the weather-related decomposition process will happen.

Our Tip: The resistance of wood can be increased with a single thermal and/or regular chemical treatment (environmentally friendly wood preservatives).

Check out here how to care for your mango wood furniture!

Making the carport winter-proof – To-do List

Your job as a carport owner is to regularly check the carport for defects that impair its functionality. If you notice any damage during the visual inspection from the roof to the foundation, you should repair it as soon as possible so that it does not intensify.

The approaching winter is the reason for a particularly thorough check of the carport.

Because of the difference between the two typical building materials, wood, and aluminum, we have two material-specific to-do lists for you below.

Before that, however, we will show you what you need to do to make your carport winter-proof, no matter what material it is made of.

Checklist for every carport

The supporting carport frame plays an important role in the stability of carport. A frost-proof foundation must be considered when planning the carport.

  • Does the foundation havecracks that make it leaky and unstable?
  • Are the floor anchorsstill firmly in the foundation and are the load-bearing posts stable?
  • Are the connectionsbetween anchors, posts, and beams firm?
  • Is the roof coveringtight?
  • Is the roofclean and free from algae growth?
  • Does the carport needextra supports due to the expected snow load?
  • Does the waterdrain from the roof as intended? Are parts of the drainage system, such as the gutter or drainpipe, blocked?

Dammed up water can become a problem at any time since it then looks for ways that can no longer be controlled. Damage to moisture is often the result. In winter, dammed water can freeze and cause the pipes to burst.

Checklist for wooden carport

In addition to the general points on the checklist for a winterproof carport, there is more to do for wooden carports:

  • Do the wooden posts havemoisture and frost-proof metal feet?
  • Are the wooden componentsdamaged? Water collects quickly in niches, cracks and so-called storage troughs in particular, and can freeze in winter, breaking up the wood structure.
  • Is the wood protectionstill sufficient and even or does the wood need additional wood protection (protective, open-pored glaze, primer, or impregnation)?

Our Tip: If you want to use wood protection before winter starts, make sure that the wood is neither fresh nor wet. Because when the wood fibers are very moist, they cannot absorb the wood preservatives. Instead, wait for a long dry period and then paint the wood.

Aluminum carport checklist

Aluminum is inherently tough and durable. Therefore, there are only two points to consider in addition to the To-Dos listed above:

  • Is the metal surfaceor the plastic coating intact or are there any damaged areas such as scratches in the coating?
  • Can rust spotsbe seen anywhere despite the material-specific corrosion resistance?